GA top Atlético reserves, finish tour unbeaten

MADRID — Playing their second game in 24 hours, the Generation adidas side saved their best performance for last, thumping the Atlético Madrid reserve side 4-1 on Thursday.

Two goals from Sporting Kansas City’s Teal Bunbury, one from the New York Red Bulls’ Juan Agudelo and an own goal from Atlético’s Míchel did the damage before Pichu Atienza struck a late penalty for the hosts.

The Americans showed their dominance early. The skillful passing combinations of FC Dallas’ Peri Marosevic, the Chicago Fire’s Corben Bone and the Columbus Crew’s Dilly Duka clearly controlled the midfield and the rhythm of the game. Their ability to hold possession for long periods of time frustrated the Spanish side, who found themselves chasing the ball and pulled out of positions.

This intricate ballwork led to several early scoring opportunities for the GA squad, who finally broke the deadlock in the 36th minute. An overlapping combination between Andrew Wiedeman and Marosevic down the right side of the field resulted in a low, driven cross from Wiedeman that was turned into the goal by Míchel.

[inline_node:324621]Feeling confident with a 1-0 lead coming out of the break, Bunbury came on and paid immediate dividends. A minute into the second half, the newly capped US international latched onto a well-weighted through-ball from Bone and, after holding off two defenders, the Sporting striker calmly slotted the ball inside the far post.

Looking to get back in the game, Atlético Madrid began throwing players forward, exposing themselves to the counterattack. Bunbury and Agudelo combined for the third goal after Bunbury skipped past a defender down the right side and found the RBNY teen at the penalty spot. Agudelo pulled the ball back across his body and fired a shot into the gaping net to put the MLS side up 3-0.

Eight minutes later, Bunbury was again involved, running onto a brilliant one-time, defense-splitting pass from Chicago’s Baggio Husidic and beating the 'keeper with a powerful shot at the near post.

With the score line beyond doubt, the GA side controlled the pace and flow for the remainder of the match before conceding a penalty in the 88th minute. Atienza beat Stefan Frei with his shot, though the Toronto 'keeper nearly made the save.

The result means the GA team returns home with a 3-0 record, the first time a Generation adidas side has gone undefeated during an international tour.

The players will conclude the tour with a return to the Bernabéu on Wednesday to watch Real Madrid’s Champions League match against Auxerre.